2021 Subaru Ascent problems and complaints
Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Ascent. The most-reported areas: Power Train (19), Electrical System (18), Unknown Or Other (16).
Key takeaways
- 102 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 3 involve a crash, 1 a fire, 3 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 19 | 19% |
| Electrical System | 18 | 18% |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 | 16% |
| Lane Departure | 15 | 15% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 14 | 14% |
| Engine | 12 | 12% |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 9% |
| Structure | 7 | 7% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 | 7% |
| Steering | 7 | 7% |
| Visibility | 3 | 3% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Subaru Ascent SUV AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Electrical System,unknown Or Other - filed 2026-08-31
After my husband replaced the 12V battery in my 2021 Subaru Ascent Touring ($90,000, fully paid off), Apple CarPlay stopped connecting via USB entirely. Android Auto and Bluetooth continued working fine on the same phone, cable, and port, proving the defect was isolated to Subaru's CarPlay system, not my device. I spe...
Power Train - filed 2026-08-28
My local Subaru dealership / service provider has told me my car needs a new transmission at 66k miles, due to an issue within the CVT solenoid causing slipping and lag that will eventually lead to catastrophic failure of the transmission - per the Subaru of America service tree. This issue began on July 23, 2026, when...
Power Train,engine - filed 2026-07-29
My 2021 Subaru Ascent (40,000 miles) suffered multiple major mechanical failures that pose ongoing safety concerns: 1. Engine Oil Leak: The vehicle developed an active engine oil leak at 20,000 miles, posing a risk of fluid contacting hot exhaust/engine components under the hood or causing low oil levels during operati...
Diagnose it yourself
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
More for the 2021 Subaru Ascent
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.